Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Dr Kim In-Kyu, described by the United Nation’s General Secretary as
“a man of vision”, has completed his term as President and CEO of KBS
and has stepped down as President of the ABU.

Dr Kim was elected of a Vice-President of the ABU in 2010 then President a year later.

Speaking after Dr Kim received the 2012 International Emmy
Directorate Award in New York on 11 November, the UN Secretary-General
Ban Ki-moon said Dr Kim was “a man of vision committed to deepening
global understanding within Korea and sharing Korea’s diverse stories
across Asia and around the world.

“He has done it for 40 years through quality programming, distinctive
broadcasting and leadership, not only at KBS but at the Asia-Pacific
Broadcasting Union,” Mr Ban said.

ABU Secretary General Dr Javad Mottaghi praised Dr Kim for his
“invaluable contribution, support and impressive achievements that will
long be remembered”.

He said Dr Kim had contributed vastly to the development of the
organisation and broadcasting in the Asia-Pacific. He numbered among
these KBS’s hosting of the 49th ABU General Assembly,
supporting the successful launches of the ABU Radio and TV Song
Festivals and the Asia- Pacific View content exchange platform, as well
as supporting the ABU@2020 reform process and many other initiatives
that “will bring added value to the Union and its members in the years
to come”.

In a farewell letter to ABU members, Dr Kim said together they had
“ushered in landmark events that are sure to have a lasting impact on
the ABU and the Asia-Pacific Region as a whole”.

These had included negotiating broadcasting rights to the London
Olympics in Pyongyang, facilitating access for North Korean journalists
and coverage for North Korean viewers.

“We also saw the debut of two incredible tributes to the power of
music in building Asia-Pacific solidarity, the ABU Radio Song Festival
and the ABU TV Song Festival, at the ABU 2012 Seoul General Assembly,”
he said.

“Thanks to all of our achievements, it is with a sense of proud
accomplishment that I shall depart from the Presidency of the
Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union this month, as my term as President and
CEO at the Korean Broadcasting System has come to an end. Thank you once
again for your hard work and dedication. I wish you and the ABU only
the best in future endeavours.

Dr Kim added: “Though my official duties at the service of the ABU have
now concluded, I will watch your strides into the future with great
interest and fondness in my heart.”

Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Australia’s Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital
Economy Senator Stephen Conroy, announced that people in rural and
remote Australia can now listen to an expanded range of ABC radio
services.

“This is great news for people living outside our major cities, who
from today can listen to a wider range of ABC radio stations via the
Viewer Access Satellite Television (VAST) platform,” Senator Conroy
said.

“For the first time, people living outside our capital cities will be
able to listen to the ABC’s digital-only radio channels: Dig, ABC
Country, ABC Jazz, ABC Digital Extra, ABC Grandstand and triple J
Unearthed.”

“The new ABC services, along with the existing SBS radio services,
mean people will have access to more radio stations. This is another
step that the Government is taking to close the gap in radio and TV
services that has long existed between the cities and the bush.” he
added.

Myanmar’s SkyNet has been awarded the live broadcast rights for all 380
Barclays Premier League matches per season from seasons 2013/14 to
2015/16, RapidTVNews reports.

Premier League chief executive, Richard Scudamore, said: "We are
extremely pleased that SkyNet has chosen to invest in the Premier League
and welcome them as a new broadcast partner.

"We look forward to developing a strong working relationship with
them as they showcase the Barclays Premier League to our fans in
Myanmar."

SkyNet’s managing director, Daw Myint Myint Win, said: "Football is
the key driver for SkyNet and the acquisition of the BPL rights is the
culmination of SkyNet’s comprehensive football offering.

"We are thrilled to have the opportunity of working with the BPL to
develop its popularity in Myanmar. This was the first time the BPL
rights were offered to the territory of Myanmar on a standalone basis
and, despite intense competition from international companies, SkyNet is
delighted to be able to offer the world’s most followed football league
to its viewers."

Those interested should download an application form from our web page (http://www.rti.org.tw/big5/checked/resume/index.aspx ) and send it to RTI-English@rti.org.tw by December 3rd, 2012. Written and mic. tests will be administered for this position from 9 a.m. until 12 p.m. on December 8th, 2012.

Sunday, November 25, 2012

KBS World Radio English Service will hold its year-end special program “Adieu 2012” on December 31st.

As part of the program, we are running a survey among our listeners to find out: 1) Who is your favorite host of KBS World Radio English Service? 2) What is your favorite program? 3) What program would you launch if you became a producer for KBS World Radio?

Please send your answers to english@kbs.co.kr
by the first week of December. We will collect your answers and
announce them on “Adieu 2012”! Ten randomly-selected participants will
receive KBS World Radio souvenirs.

Friday, November 23, 2012

More than 100 broadcasters and technical professionals from Myanmar
and across the region attended a three-day gathering in Yangon co-hosted
by the ABU to promote broadcasting development.

Myanmar’s Forever Group helped organise and host the Digital
Broadcasting Conference for Asian Broadcasters, an annual event
comprising two days of workshops and a conference.

The Conference was inaugurated by the Deputy Minister of Information
in Myanmar, U Paik Htway, who expressed hope the broadcasting industry
in Myanmar would develop rapidly and meet the needs of the growing
audiences.

“This gathering of experts is certainly fruitful and will benefit broadcasters locally and in the region,” he said.

After outlining current developments in the media industry of
Myanmar, he thanked the organisers for bringing together such a
productive broadcasting technology event.

Earlier, in welcoming participants, Mr Sharad Sadhu of the ABU said
the conference would expose delegates to new developments in
broadcasting technology and in the rest of the industry.

Forever Group Director Mr Khin Maung Htay surveyed the media landscape in Myanmar and developments envisaged in the near term.

The BBC Trust has today appointed Tony Hall - Lord Hall of Birkenhead
- as the Director-General of the BBC, following the departure of George
Entwistle.

Lord Hall is currently Chief Executive of the Royal Opera House, was
Chairman of the board for the Cultural Olympiad and was head of BBC News
and Current Affairs from 1996 to 2001. While at the BBC, he launched
BBC News Online, as well as Radio 5 Live, BBC News 24 and BBC
Parliament. At present he is Deputy Chairman of Channel 4.

Lord Hall is expected to start in early March and in the interim period Tim Davie will remain as Acting Director-General.

Announcing the appointment, BBC Trust Chairman Lord Patten said the
appointment is a first step in rebuilding the corporations reputation
and trust:

"While there are still very serious questions to be answered by the
on-going inquiries, it is in the interests of licence fee payers that
the BBC now starts to refocus on its main purpose – making great
programmes that audiences love and trust.

"In doing this it will need to take a long, hard look at the way it
operates and put in place the changes required to ensure it lives up to
the standards that the public expects. Tony Hall is the right person to
lead this and I am delighted that he is taking on this role. For its
part I want to make sure that the Trust gives Tony Hall whatever help
and support he needs to re-build the BBC's management around him.

"Tony Hall has been an insider and is a currently an outsider. As an
ex-BBC man he understands how the Corporation's culture and behaviour
make it, at its best, the greatest broadcaster in the world. And from
his vantage point outside the BBC, he understands the sometimes
justified criticisms of the Corporation – that it can be inward looking
and on occasions too institutional.

"But perhaps most importantly, given where we now find ourselves, his
background in news will prove invaluable as the BBC looks to rebuild
both its reputation in this area and the trust of audiences."

Lord Hall said he believes in the BBC and is passionate about its
services: "This organisation is an incredibly important part of what
makes the United Kingdom what it is. And of course it matters not just
to people in this country – but to tens of millions around the world
too.

"I'm committed to ensuring our news services are the best in the world.

"I'm committed to making this a place where creative people, the best and the brightest, want to work.

The appointment was made following a direct approach from the BBC Trust
to Lord Hall. The Trust did not approach any other candidates. Lord Hall
did not apply for the job when it last became vacant as a result of
Mark Thompson's departure.

The Voice of Russia radio, one of the
largest and oldest foreign-language broadcasters in the world, has once
again experienced attacks coming from Europe. This time it was Germany’s
state-run Deutsche Welle radio that accused the Voice of Russia of
making Romania a “banana republic” and disintegrating the basics of a
legal state in the country, as well as attempting to distance Romania
from Berlin and Brussels.

The German radio claims that the
Voice of Russia is manipulating Romanian MPs and is turning the country
into a Russian colony. The Russian broadcaster is also accused of
masterminding a strategy to affect the Romanian parliament to change the
country’s Constitution “in line with the Voice of Russia wishes”.

Earlier,
Romania’s’ President Traian Basescu stated that the country’s
opposition, media and analysts are carrying out orders transmitted via
the Voice of Russia instead of listening to the Western media.

DW
accusations are another link in a series of attacks on the Russian
radio which broadcasts on air and online in 37 languages. According to
the Voice of Russia it has recently suffered a series of attacks
–beginning from diplomatic and administrative pressure to hacking
attacks on its partners’ sites in Europe.

The Voice
of Russia has forwarded a letter to DW offering a thorough discussion on
the matter to exchange opinions and information.

Earlier, Romanian President was given an opportunity to speak out on the VoR air and website.

Saturday, November 17, 2012

Airtel Tanzania in collaboration with UNESCO is expected to launch a
formal community radio tomorrow in the Ololosokwami village in
Ngorongoro, Arusha.

Airtel Director for Communications, Beatrice Singano said that the
celebration of the launch of the community radio will be attended and
officiated by Minister for Communications, Science and Technology
Professor Makame Mbarawa.

She explained that, “Airtel and UNESCO has fulfilled its commitment to
reach more people especial in rural areas through communication as well
as helping women in communities particularly marginalized mothers who
have been left behind without having their roles and contribution to the
community recognized.

“This project will help eliminate the current challenges and wrong
practices including outdated traditions, poor education, superstitious
beliefs, poverty, sexual abuse and rapid growth of HIV and AIDS and so
many other problems,” said Singano.

She added that, “preparations for the opening ceremony have been
completed, radio broadcasting is expected to cover Ololosokwani and 14
neighboring villages; also through various Airtel products and services
including Airtel money service resident of Ololosokwani and neighboring
villages will conveniently and easily get access to financial services
she added Singano.

Commenting on the installation of radio equipments, the UNESCO Project
Officer for information and communication Yusuph Al Amin said, “Our
social project has been completed; we thank Airtel and all stakeholders
for their cooperation and support in completing this goal.

He added that, “this plant will provide communication to all residents
in Ololosokwani and neighboring villages; we have also developed a
multimedia center for residents to visit and integrate with a
sophisticated network of Airtel internet.”
Other beneficiaries of Community Radio projects includes; Sengerema
Mwanza, Karagwe Kagera, Chake Chake Pemba, Makunduchi Unguja, Pangani
Tanga, Kyela Mbeya and Kalama Shinyanga.

Both the FM Radio channels of All India Radio – FM Gold and FM
Rainbow – have been given a completely new face this month with several
new programmes and other changes.

These changes came into effect from 12 November, which is
observed as the Public Service Broadcasting Day in India to commemorate
Mahatma Gandhi’s maiden and only visit to AIR studio. In a broadcast on
12 November 1947, Gandhi had addressed refugees from Pakistan stationed
at the camp at Kurukshetra.

AIR sources told Radioandmusic.com that the most major change in
AIR Rainbow has been the rationalization of western music vis-à-vis
Indian music.

On FM Gold, five new shows have been introduced without touching the main programmes that are already popular with listeners.

Realising that long news bulletins were irritants to viewers who
were keen to listen to golden melodies for which the channel is known,
the sources added that English and Hindi bulletins will be broadcast for
five minutes alternately every hour instead of both being broadcast
together. However, the bulletins will be broadcast together four times a
day.

Thus, the sources said the time for music had been increased substantially.

Long discussions on economic subjects have been reduced to a
maximum of fifteen minutes once a day. The 'Sports Scan' programme which
is broadcast at 8 pm will now be a 15-minute programme that will be
broadcast from 8.30 pm to 8.45 pm in place

Greater attention will be paid to interviews with personalities,
and to listeners’ requests, the sources said.

The RFI Listeners' Club is going strong! As a member
of the RFI Listeners' Club, you’ll receive extra goodies when you win a
quiz – so join today! All you have to do to become a member of the RFI
Listeners' Club is to send us two identity photographs, your full name,
your postal mailing address and if you have one, your email address.

Your official RFI Listeners' Club membership card and number will be
sent to you by my good colleague Sébastien Bonijol in the Listener
Relations department. Every time you enter a quiz, include your
membership number - and if you win, you’ll find an extra special present
in your mailbox. So don’t put it off – send your photos and mailing
address to Sébastien today!

Friday, November 16, 2012

All new BMW models launched in the UK will have DAB digital radios fitted as standard across the entire range from January 2013.

DAB is currently an option on new models and as standard in some
high-end models, including the 7 Series, and follows the decision of the
BMW Group to fit new Minis with digital radio as standard from
September 2010.

BMW say the move sees the marque establish a marked lead in the
switch over to digital radio, and comes soon after it offered owners of
older BMWs the chance to upgrade their vehicles with a retrofit
solution. In July 2012 BMW announced that they would provide a digital
radio aftermarket adapter solution in their UK franchise dealers that
would enable any BMW model to be converted to receive digital radio.

BMW sells over 116,000 cars annually in the UK and their 3 Series is the 8th best-selling new model in the UK.

The BMW digital radio announcement follows the recent Drive 2 Digital
Conference which heard from the Minister for Culture, Communications
and Creative Industries, Ed Vaizey, that Government plan to make a radio
switchover announcement in 2013 and that the BBC is actively building
DAB coverage out towards 97%.

Over 300 automotive industry and broadcaster attendees heard from the
Minister about progress being made on fitting digital radios in cars.
Minister Ed Vaizey announced that digital listening had increased to
nearly one third of all listening and that a quarter of new cars were
now fitted with digital radio as standard. He said that this great
progress demonstrated that listeners love digital radio and that the car
industry was fully engaged with the transition to digital.

The BBC’s acting Director General, Tim Davie, confirmed the BBC’s
commitment to digital radio at the conference, and said increases in
digital listening meant that the road to a future digital radio
switchover was now clear and inevitable. He said this was due to
listeners loving the expanded choice on digital radio. Davie announced
that specific plans for BBC national DAB coverage build-out to 97% would
be confirmed in spring 2013, with a focus on ensuring that all
motorways and major road networks were covered.

Ford, Vauxhall and VW have already announced plans to accelerate
their transition to providing digital radio as standard in new models.
According to SMMT, in September 2012 26% of all new cars had digital
radio as standard and Ford of Britain confirmed that over 50% of their
new cars in the UK now came with digital radio as standard.

Ford Ennals, CEO of Digital Radio UK, welcomed the BMW announcement
saying that this is a real tipping point on the transition to offering
digital radio in all new cars. He said that it is good news for drivers
as research conducted by Digital Radio UK and Auto Trader shows high
satisfaction levels among drivers with digital radio in their car, and
high willingness to recommend to others. Ennals said that the new
industry communications campaign, which launches on BBC TV on 17
November, followed by heavyweight commercial and BBC radio, would carry a
strong message about the benefits of digital radio in-car.

Tim Davie, the BBC’s acting Director General, says: “While it is
encouraging to see record numbers for BBC digital stations, the real
breakthrough will come when DAB radio is in all cars. Therefore, it is
excellent news that while the BBC builds out coverage, more and more car
manufacturers are now announcing that DAB will be standard fit in all
their models.”

The European Parliament’s Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and
Home Affairs in Brussels heard on November 6 that "media freedom is not a
done deal – even in the European Union."

Cyprus Press and Information office director, Eleonora Gavrielides, who
was speaking on behalf of the Cypriot Presidency of the EU, told the
hearing on Media Freedom: "More concerted and concentrated effort is
needed to safeguard media freedom and pluralism in the Member States.”

The observation was shared by Anthony Whelan, Head of Cabinet of
Commission Vice-president Neelie Kroes : "Most EU citizens enjoy a
relatively high level of media freedom and pluralism, " he said, "but in
a Union of 27, there are constant challenges to a completely open and
plural environment."

Mr Whelan added: “Issues such as media concentration and diversity
restrictions on the media, both online and offline, controlled pressure
and interference by the State, and also in some cases failures of self
regulation, constantly appear on the agenda.”

Another speaker at the hearing, Senior Manager of the Mapping Digital
Media project Marius Dragomir, identified issues such as increasing the
deregulation of ownership rules, and the negative impact of business
restructuring on investigative journalism. “The situation is getting
worse for media freedom as a result of the economic crisis”, he said.

European Broadcasting Union (EBU) Head of European Affairs Nicola Frank
said that public service media (PSM) have a specific commitment to
media freedom and pluralism, but require the right conditions to fulfil
their mission. Ms Frank said: “The editorial independence of PSM must be
scrupulously respected by governments and ensured by regular reviews by
independently-operated bodies. There is also a need for adequate,
sustainable funding."

University of Leuven Professor Peggy Valcke questioned why EU
regulations required the establishment of independent regulatory bodies
in the telecom, but not the media sector.

Many participants, including Members of the European Parliament (MEPs),
said that the European Parliament should be courageous and make strong
demands to counter the negative trends impeding media freedom in Europe
and elsewhere.

Opinion expressed at the hearing will be included in the European
Parliament’s upcoming report on Media Freedom Standard Setting by
Romanian Liberal MEP Renate Weber, as well as the final report of the
European Commission’s High Level Group on Media Freedom and Pluralism,
expected this December.

Delegates at this week's EBU FORECAST'12 seminar heard plenty of
evidence pointing to the dilemma facing broadcasters today: while the
are increasing pressures to deliver more content and more services, the
essential real-estate that drives broadcasting - spectrum - is
continually being squeezed by the demands of the mobile sector.

Live TV audiences are growing and there is an ever increasing demand
for higher quality as sets get bigger. FORECAST'12 attendees heard about
the techniques broadcasters are exploring to help them meet these
demands through more efficient spectrum use. Mobile industry people were
also in attendance to present their efforts to develop networks that
would cooperate more effectively, but the demands from that industry for
bigger slices of the spectrum currently used for broadcasting are plain
to see.

On day two of FORECAST'12, Prof. Reimers of TUBS spoke about his
dynamic broadcasting and LTE overlay projects: both designed to merge
the key assets of mobile, broadcast and fixed broadband networks. His
message was to point towards the network architectures, rather than
operating in the silos that are mobile telecommunications and
broadcasting. Some delegates voiced concern that the necessary
cooperation between the two sectors would not happen.

A key prsentation on day two looked at the environmental impact of
broadcasting. Simon Tuff (BBC) pointed to the fact that 60% of the TV
industry's impact is due to domestic installations (TV sets, antenna
amplifiers, etc.). He cautioned that proposals to move broadcasting to
low-tower, low-power topologies could increase the energy consumption of
a typical network by 100%. He highlighted the EBU's programme on Green
Broadcasting as an important first step towards finding realistic ways
to address these issues.

FORECAST'12 attracted more than 110 participants and speakers drawn
from public and private broadcasters, network operators, regulators,
academia and the telecoms industry. The presentations from the event are
available to EBU Members from the event webpage.

In a high-level visit to the ABU headquarters, Korea’s Munhwa
Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) confirmed its commitment to play a bigger
role in current and future projects of the Union.

MBC Executive Vice-President Ahn Kwang-Han, admitted that despite
being a Full Member of the ABU since 1966, MBC has yet to be actively
involved in the Union. “However, now we are here to look at ways to
develop partnerships with ABU”, he said.

Ms Lee Jin-Sook, MBC Executive Managing Director, Planning and Public
Relations, added that the General Assembly in Seoul in October
demonstrated ABU’s capabilities as a modern and dynamic organisation and
that MBC wants to strengthen its connections with the Union.

ABU Secretary-General Dr Javad Mottaghi welcomed MBC’s commitment to
the Union and outlined several possible partnerships between the two
organisations in areas such as content exchange, expert secondments and
annual forums showcasing best practices in broadcasting and technology
in the region. “MBC is one of the most developed members of the Union
and it is important that the corporation shares its knowledge and
expertise with our less developed members, especially as they are moving
to multimedia formats”, Dr Mottaghi said.

MBC is one of three public service broadcasters in Korea. It was
among the first broadcasters in Asia to introduce Digital Multimedia
Broadcasting service (launched in 2005) which allows for free
transmission of video, audio and data files via mobile receivers such as
cellular phones and DMB terminals.

The ABU-organised conference on digital broadcasting for Asian
broadcasters will be held in Yangon, Myanmar from 19 – 21 Nov 2012.

The event is being hosted by one of ABU’s Myanmar members, The
Forever Group, and comprises two days of workshops and a one day
conference.

The workshops will address digital implementation strategies, new
transmitter technologies as well as other topical and current issues
such as Early Warning Broadcast Systems, frequency planning and related
TV and radio broadcast technological developments.

The fifth China Broadcasting Industrial Trend (CBIT) and the first
ever DVB+OTT Integration & Innovation Forum (DOF) Annual Conference
will take place December 6-7 in southeast of Chongqing, the most
competitive capital city of China's vast southwest hinterland.

For the first time, the CBIT is held out of Beijing, and organised in
conjunction with the Chongqing CATV Network Company. During the two-day
conference, this year's top ten China broadcasting industrial news as
well as the next year's top ten industrial development trends will be
announced.

This year’s CBIT theme is innovation and the meeting will focus on
the evolution from traditional media to new media and its effect on the
Chinese radio and television industry. Issues such as cross-platform
development, business innovation, promotion and development of China's
TV industry will feature prominently in the discussions.
The DVB + OTT fusion Innovation Forum will hold its first annual
meeting on 7 December. Part of the event will consist of an open forum
bringing together developers and other industry stakeholders to explore
the integration of DVB + OTT. The Forum will culminate with the
unveiling of the Enhanced TV project, as well as its work on
cross-device interconnection standards and the Wired Smart One Machine
project which aims to integrate digital TV, cable and smart TV to
optimise B2B functionality and cooperation.

India is one of the leading countries in introducing DRM through an ambitious roll-out plan spearheaded by the public broadcaster, All India Radio (AIR). The progress has been good but the successful take-up of Digital Radio for the millions of radio listening Indians will depend on: affordable receivers, sufficient digital broadcasts, effective marketing and good content.

With the endorsement of AIR, the DRM Consortium launched an “Indian DRM Chapter” (Platform) in February 2011. Its focus is to support the digital roll-out in India. The Platform, which meets virtually every month in order to exchange information and share in the latest development, is to hold a DRM Workshop at the LaLit Hotel in New Delhi on November 22nd. This event will offer an opportunity to all interested parties and stakeholders to hear how the DRM transmissions in India have been progressing, to get the latest DRM news from all over the world and receive an update on the All India Radio digital roll-out.

Mr Yogendra Pal, the Honorary Chair of the India Platform is looking forward to this meeting of the IndiaPlatform: “The meeting of the Indian Platform members is long overdue. Though we share information virtually all the time there is no better way to get the latest information and contribute to the successful introduction of DRM in India, than meeting face to face.”

Ruxandra Obreja, DRM Consortium Chair, is keen that this event should be open and welcoming to anyoneinterested: “DRM needs to go beyond the transmission sites and excite radio manufacturers, content-makersand listeners now. As you know, the DRM India Platform is open to membership from other broadcasters, digital chip, module and receiver manufacturers, transmission companies, distributors and retailers. On the 22nd we will all meet and take the project forward.”

For more information on the event on November 22nd please write to: projectoffice@drm.org

KeyStone Semiconductor Corp. (KeyStone), a fabless semiconductor
developer of advanced digital radio technology announces today that it
enters mass production of its third-generation series of single-chip
FM/DAB/DAB+ receiver ICs. The new digital radio chips employ advanced
semiconductor process not only to reduce the chip manufacturing cost but
also to cut power consumption. The new generation FM/DAB/DAB+
single-chip achieves DAB/DAB+ sensitivity better than -102 dBm with a
super low-power consumption at 120 mW, which saves more than twice of
the power consumption than its competitors. New on-chip RF tuners
further improve adjacent-channel rejection exceeding DRUK's automotive
ACS requirements.

KSW8088CS is an improved new design that supports both analogue FM
and digital audio broadcasting (DAB) reception. Like its prior two
generations, KSW8088CS also fully integrates triple-band RF tuner,
demodulators, audio decoders, micro controller, flash memory, etc. onto a
single-chip leaving no expensive components on the modules. Thanks to
the employment of advanced semiconductor process and novel RF tuner
design, KSW8088CS is able to reduce its manufacturing cost to meet
low-entry-price digital radio market demands. At USD 4.0 per chip,
factories will be able to produce digital radios priced under £19.9 to
facilitate the population of DAB in the UK market.

KeyStone is WorldDMB and Bluetooth SIG members. Its FM/DAB/DAB+
modules are certified by Apple MFi programs. Products employing KeyStone
DAB/DAB+ modules and Bluetooth Radio Wizard (BRW) technology are
available at Apple Store. Samples and demo units are available for
ordering. For more information on KeyStone’s digital radio single-chip
modules and BRW technology, please contact KeyStone at
contact@keystonesemi.com.

DB Digital Broadcasting, Ireland's national independent multiplex and network transmission provider, is using Harris transmitters in its Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB) digital radio trials, currently taking place in and around Dublin.

Launched earlier this summer, the DAB
digital radio trial currently broadcasts three radio services in the
Dublin area: All 80s, UCB, and Raidió Rí-Rá, which to this point was an
internet-only service. Each service broadcasts on traditional DAB and
the new DAB+ standard. The DAB+ service includes slideshows displaying
images as well as the station's audio broadcasts. In particular, All 80s
is working with All-In-Media's Rapid software, delivering rich
dynamically updated information from "now playing" to weather/traffic
info plus listener requests, all displayed on-screen and delivered via
Harris DAB transmitters.

DB Digital Broadcasting has standardized
on Harris DAB transmitters after wide testing that included other
manufacturers. The project employs high- and low-power Platinum VAX VHF
air-cooled transmitter and Harris PowerSmart technologies for maximum
space- and power-efficiency, while providing a solid foundation for
network expansion as desired. The DAB transmitters are configured
differently from Ireland national broadcaster RTÉ's analog mux to allow
direct A/B comparisons of both services. The differences in distance and
building penetration between systems will be investigated to help with
planning of the forthcoming SFN (Single Frequency Network) part of the
DAB trial.

"We selected Harris as our transmission
partner since the company has an exceedingly good track record
stretching over many years and is a recognized world leader in DAB
technology." explained Dusty Rhodes, managing director of DB Digital
Broadcasting. "Harris' involvement in projects such as Norkring's
creation of the world's largest DAB radio network in Norway will enable
it to manufacture DAB transmission solutions on a far greater scale and
create economies of scale. The company's transmission track record,
married with its direct experience in DAB radio, makes Harris an
attractive proposition for us."

Expanding coverage and services planned

The DAB trials are on-going and DB
Digital Broadcasting has ambitious network expansion plans. By
Christmas, it intends to double the number of DAB radio services offered
on the Dublin network to six, and in 2013 it plans to expand network
coverage to the cities of Cork and Limerick.

"Public reaction to new trial services
has been very positive." reports Rhodes. "We are constantly surprised by
the amount of people who find our trial 'by accident' when playing with
a new radio and wondering what the DAB button does!"

"Some disappointment has been expressed
by members of the public that more commercial services are not
available. Interestingly they view us, the mux provider, as being
responsible for how many and which stations are broadcast. The reality
is our trial is open to all but it is up to stations/content providers
to acquire the appropriate licence from the Broadcasting Authority of
Ireland (BAI) to enable broadcasting on DAB."

Thursday, November 15, 2012

The app’s front page refreshes daily to keep you up to speed on the
latest news, plus it hand-picks content for you from Radio-Canada’s top
stories, based on your preferences.

Providing full access to Radio-Canada news, Première Chaîne and
Espace musique live radio (geotargeted), top audio and video picks, plus
weather reports and current affairs programming, the Radio-Canada iPad
app is packed with unparalleled content.

At The Mighty KBC, we have been experimenting with digital text modes
during our Sunday 0000-0200 UTC broadcast on 9450 kHz. Text via
shortwave can be a useful substitute if the Internet is disrupted or
blocked. To decode the digital text transmissions, we suggest that you
download FLDIGI from www.w1hkj.com. Please also download FLMSG, because
we will use it on our 25 November broadcast. On 18 November, the first
text transmission at about 0130 UTC will be in three modes
simultaneously. On the 'waterfall,' PSKR125 will be centered at 1000 Hz,
DominoEX 16 at 1500 Hz, and MFSK32 at 2000 Hz. Decode one of the modes
from your radio, then decode the others from your recording. Just before
0200 UTC, The Mighty KBC program schedule will be sent as a web page.
Two modes will be available: PSKR250 on the left, and MFSK64 on the
right. Decode one from the radio, and the other from your recording.

Turkey’s public broadcaster the Turkish Radio Television Corporation
(TRT) has called for entries in its TRT Documentary Awards in both
national and international cagegories. The Awards are designed to
support amateur and professional documentary film-makers and to foster
the development and production of the documentary film genre.

The TRT Documentary Awards is open to all documentary film-makers who
are eligible to enter the competition and there is no participation
fee.

Deadline for entries for the pre-selection round is 25 January 2013.

The winners of the TRT Documentary Awards will be announced on 13 May
2013 in a special Gala event programme which will be broadcast on TRT
TV channels in the presence of the members of the Selection Committees,
the Directors of the winning documentaries, members of the press and
other guests.

Detailed information regarding the conditions of entry, deadlines, and prizes can be found at www.trtdoc.com.

The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) has launched a campaign for all
new radios and mobile devices to be fitted with a ‘Euro-Chip’, which
will give Digital Radio vital impetus and a surer future in Europe.

Euro-Chip integrates the main radio standards, such as digital
(DAB/DAB+/DMB) and analogue (FM), into one universal radio receiver,
overcoming incompatibilities and bringing important benefits to
broadcasters, manufacturers and consumers.

Owners of any device containing a live Euro-Chip – including
smartphones and tablets – can enjoy cost-free broadcast reception, even
as they cross international borders or pass between digital and analogue
signals.

Crucially, Euro-Chipped smartphones will draw younger people to radio;
EBU research consistently confirms that it is the device, and not the
delivery system, that matters most to them.

The technology will also enhance radio’s role as the optimum
communications medium in the event of networks failure, during for
instance, natural disasters; at these pressured times, broadcast
networks usually continue to work.

The EBU wants action on several levels:

Although many devices have been fitted with a radio chip, dormant chips must be activated.

Radio chip tools should be open and accessible for creative minds to develop new applications.

Any future radios and smart devices must contain active Euro-Chips when they reach the shelves.

To this end, the EBU will talk to key stakeholders, such as carmakers,
legislators and electronics manufacturers, to spread universal awareness
of the huge opportunity that Euro-Chip represents.

EBU President Jean-Paul Philippot said: “Radio is extremely popular in
Europe, but it has not enjoyed the same momentum as television, notably
in the consumer electronics sphere. We want to send a clear signal that
the EBU is determined to make radio a key part of Europe’s digital
future.”

The EBU Executive Board has agreed a declaration in support of Euro-Chip, which lists the reasons why Euro-Chip is essential:

Efficient network use: Euro-Chip eases pressure on mobile broadband
networks while making full use of spectrum allocations for digital and
analogue radio.

Cost-free listening: In mobile phones, Euro-Chip enables audiences to
receive broadcast services everywhere at no incremental cost. Consumers
will not need to pay for broadband reception of free-to-air radio
services.

An Internal Market-friendly device: future-proof and interoperable, Euro-Chip enables radio reception in dozens of countries.

Huge potential for innovative radio services: access to radio chips
and hybrid radio services will engender new business models, creative
opportunities and audience interaction.

Enhanced public safety: Radio is the most resilient communications
medium in natural disasters and national emergencies, a feature that
Euro-Chip will enhance by increasing radio’s reach. Euro-Chip will also
boost road safety in Europe by simplifying the delivery of real-time,
language-independent traffic information about local and cross-border
conditions.

The Open Media Summit is DW Akademie's first open online course. Live
video discussions, online resources and social media create a shared
learning environment for citizen journalists and bloggers from the Arab
world.

From now until December 16, participants in the Open Media Summit can
take part in interactive online training sessions on topics such as the
responsible use of online information sources, the potential of
data-driven journalism and Internet censorship. The main language of the
course is Arabic and there is also an English website. Participation in
the Open Media Summit (#OMS 2012) is free and it is open to anyone
interested from North Africa and other Arab countries.

"Aside from on-site workshops," says Gerda Meuer, Managing Director of
DW Akademie, "the Internet - especially Facebook and Twitter - lends
itself to training opportunities for bloggers and citizen journalists."
DW Akademie is testing how e-learning and social media outlets can
successfully be combined for shared learning and teaching based on the
massive open online course (MOOC) concept. MOOCs are a new educational
format currently being widely discussed, especially in higher education
circles.

DW Akademie's Open Media Summit has involved experts from the region and
developed the course based on their expertise. "We expect the Internet
activists to actively contribute to the educational progress of the
participants with their input," says Meuer, describing the idea behind
the project. "Our intention is to bring together the knowledge from the
region and pass it on."

The OMS 2012 is part of a larger project to provide support and training
to social media activists from the region and is conducted jointly with
the Deutsche Gesellschaft für internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) with
funding by Germany's Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and
Development (BMZ). It is the first project of its kind inmedia
development activities for the Arab world and ties into Deutsche Welle's
longstanding commitment to online activists and citizen journalists. In
2004, Deutsche Welle initiated the annual Deutsche Welle Blog Awards -
The BOBs - and was the first broadcaster in the country to launch its
own YouTube channels and Facebook pages.

The virtual OMS campus is online at dw-akademie.de/oms2012. In addition,
there is a dedicated Facebook group as well as Twitter feed. Reporters
Without Borders supports the online event on topics related to Internet
censorship.

India has started the countdown for the second phase of digitisation
in 38 cities in 15 states, the deadline for which is 31 March 2013,
RapidTVNews reports.

Following the successful switchover in Mumbai and Delhi, Information
& Broadcasting Secretary Uday Kumar Varma recently held a meeting to
review Phase II. Digitisation in Kolkata is most likely to happen after
Diwali and in Chennai, the fourth metro covered in the first phase, and
this will be decided by the Madras High Court on 19 November.

The ministry has planned a one-day workshop this month to prepare an
integrated plan of action for a smooth transition to digital cable TV in
Phase II cities.

It has asked the multi-system operators (MSOs) to make a thorough
assessment of the number of set-top boxes (STBs). “MSOs have also been
asked to provide information about the estimated number of STBs and
their plans for procurement of STBs to ensure that the deadline of 31
March 2013 is met in these Phase II cities,” the ministry said.

Saturday, November 03, 2012

The tea and coffee bushes growing on the hillsides around Isaac
Kinyua's home have long provided him and many of his kin with a
livelihood, giving Central Kenya an economic edge over other parts of
the country.

But the hillsides are also periodically hit by landslides - one
reason Kinyua is now taking the precaution of building a concrete wall
on the eastern side of his house, where the land falls steeply to the
valley below.

Why now? Because lately, when Kinyua tunes in his portable radio, he
receives weather alerts from the nearby community radio station. One
recent warning advised that heavy rains are expected in November and
December.

"Disaster preparedness is very important here because of unexpected changes in the weather and mudslides," says Kinya.

Just three years ago, when Kangema had no such early warning system,
tragedy struck in the form of a landslide that killed a 13-year-old girl
and forced hundreds of people to leave their homes.

Kangema RANET 106.5 FM, Kangema's local station, pulls in listeners
with plenty of local music. When Kinyua goes shopping, he is happy to
find the radio blaring in the rows of shops that line Kangema's shopping
area.

What grabs the attention of Winfred Chege, one of the stallholders,
however, is not music but the occasional interruption for weather
forecasts.

When the presenter has finished, Chege knows she has to find a way to
shelter the food she has been selling all morning at her makeshift
grocery shed, because there is likely to be some drizzle a few minutes
after midday.

She pulls out a soiled plastic cover tucked into one edge of the
stall and begins to roll it over the fruit and vegetables stacked in
rows on the ground as the skies above begin to darken. She then puts on a
heavy sweater and waits for the rain to pass.

"Since the community radio station was established it has been
helping us to know what is around us in terms of short and longer term
weather patterns," says the 63-year-old grandmother. "Now I know what to
do."

That would have been difficult a few years ago, according to the
officer in charge of the radio station, Josphat Kang'ethe, who grew up
in this area, one of the rainiest parts of the country.